Deciduous in December

Greetings,

We hope you all are having a happy holiday season so far, and that the little bit of rain we’ve gotten has inspired and energized you for prime planting season! 

We often get questions this time of year about evergreen species, as customers seek year-round good looks in their native gardens. It seems that the mild Mediterranean climate of coastal California leads to greater expectations of lush, active growth from our native plants during the winter months than what is often expected in colder, snowy parts of the country. While evergreen species can be very beautiful, and provide valuable cover for hedges and privacy screens throughout fall and winter, there are many deciduous shrubs and trees that are worthy of a spot in the garden too! Deciduous shrubs and trees have the unique ability to beautify the garden scheme or landscape in a variety of ways through each shift of seasons, even with their loss of leaves in winter.

Many winter-deciduous species put on quite a show in spring or summer when they flower, and dazzle with displays of fall color as their leaves change from green to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, and sometimes even rich shades of purple and brown (a bit of trivia: this process of leaf color change is called photoperiodism).

To some folks, the dropping of leaves is a nuisance– something unsightly to clean up and get rid of as soon as possible. However, from an ecological perspective, fallen leaves in winter provides immense benefits in the garden and landscape. For starters, the fallen leaves are free, high quality mulch and fertilizer! They help to suppress weeds, and enrich the soil by adding nutrients as they break down. In turn, they make the ground more hospitable for other plants that you might want to incorporate into the space. The fallen leaves also provide invaluable habitat for an abundance of critical pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths throughout the winter months, so if you want to help save the pollinators, leave your leaves!

It is also perhaps overlooked that many of these shrubs and trees have striking bark and branch patterns, which provides marvelous texture and intrigue. Their winter silhouettes can also add interest and structure to the landscape.

Below are just a few of the many striking deciduous species that can add an element of interest no matter the season 🙂

Last but not least, we have some easy gift ideas at the bottom for the native plant nerd in your life!

California Buckeye

Aesculus californica

Available in TB4 pots for $14.30 each!

• This drought tolerant deciduous tree grows 15 – 40 ft. tall with a 30 – 60 ft. spread (space minimum of 30 ft. apart)
• Grows at a moderate pace, so you can expect about 3 ft. of growth per year
• Buckeyes provide year-round beauty in the garden…
• In winter, its handsome thick-stemmed silhouette and smooth silvery bark (arguably its most alluring feature) is revealed 
• In spring, abundant candelabra-like flower clusters bloom from April – June, providing nectar for hummingbirds and a variety of butterflies and accenting the apple-green foliage beautifully!
• In fall, large chestnut-brown seeds appear, providing food for ground squirrels (they are somewhat toxic and therefore avoided by most other wildlife)
• Can grow in part shade to full sun with very dry to moderately wet conditions 
• Prefers well-draining soil, such as loam, sand, or gravelly soils

Brown Dogwood

Cornus glabrata

Available in D-40 pots for $9.90, TB4 pots for $14.30, and TB4’s 25% off for $10.73 each!

• Attractive deciduous shrub that can form thickets, with limber weeping branches that can root to form new plants where they touch the ground. May also spread via root suckers
• Grows up to 10 ft. in moist shade, or around 4 ft. in drier conditions
• Spectacular brown, reddish, or purple stems add interest in the winter after dropping its foliage
• In the spring, bright green leaves provide the backdrop for a show of creamy white flower clusters followed by blueish-white berries, and attract a variety of wildlife
• In the fall, this species dazzles in the garden as the leaves turn bright red
• Grows best in the shade next to or in a stream, but can do very well in the garden with partial sun to full shade and an occasional deep watering

Redtwig Dogwood/American Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Available in D-40 pots for $9.90 and TB4 pots for $15.70 each!

• This winter deciduous shrub grows quickly up to 5 – 15 ft. tall and 15 – 25 ft. wide, spreading by rhizomes
• In the fall, its leaves turn from green to bright shades of red and purple before going dormant
• Once its leaves have fallen, this species beautifully accents the garden with its wine-colored bark followed by a bloom of white flower clusters in the spring
• Excellent choice for creekside erosion control and quickly filling in wet areas of the garden with full sun to partial shade
• Often planted as an ornamental, both to beautify the landscape and provide cover for birds and small mammals

Ninebark

Physocarpus capitatus

Available in D-40 pots for $9.90 each!

• This deciduous shrub grows 5 – 8 ft. tall and wide
• In the spring, it puts on a delightful show with 
• In fall, the maple-like lobed leaves can be intense shades of orange and red before it goes dormant for winter
• Ninebark is named for the supposed 9 layers of bark that peel as it matures, creating a variety of colors and textures along its stems that are revealed in fall and winter as it drops its maple-like lobed leaves
• This species prefers part shade in hot locations, and can be quite drought tolerant once established (even in full sun in coastal areas!)
• It is particularly valuable for stream bank and lakeshore stabilization and provides important cover and nesting sites for several species of birds and small mammals
• Tolerant of serpentine soil and grows very well under oaks

Red Flowering Currant

Ribes sanguineum

Available in D40 pots for $9.90 and TB4 pots for $15.70 each!

• A deciduous shrub that grows 6.5 – 13 ft. tall and up to 7 ft. wide
• Lime-colored roundish leaves and long showy pink flower clusters emerge in late winter, and cover the plant throughout the spring
• Provides invaluable nectar for hummingbirds and supports dozens of butterfly and moth species (likely 80 species according to Calscape!)
• Its blue-black berries produced in the summer are edible, although somewhat astringent…A variety of birds sure love them though!
• Its aromatic leaves tend to deter deer
• When grown inland, this species is happiest in bright shade with light water, although it can tolerate more sun with moderate water
• Along the coast, it can tolerate full shade to full sun and is drought tolerant even in sunnier locations

‘Tis the season of gift giving, so here are some ideas for stocking stuffers for the native plant lover in your life:

• Gift certificates are available may be purchased in person or over the phone, and either mailed to the recipient, purchaser, or held here at the nursery for the recipient to use upon arrival. 
• Mugwort Soap (for $7.00 each)
• Made with locally grown Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana)
• Elderberry Syrup (for $12.00 each) 
• Made with locally grown Blue Elderberries (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) and Bay Area sourced honey
• Native wildflower seed packets (for $5.00 each)
• We have 7 different varieties with your favorite California native wildflowers and perennials! Each packet contains 2 grams of seed, which covers approximately 30 square feet.

Stay Safe, ‘Bee’ Well, and Go Natives!

Happy Native American Heritage Month and happy planting from all of us at The Watershed Nursery <3